Electric switch.



F. BARR.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLIoATIN FILED 11111.15, 1911.

1,053,552. Patented Feb. 18,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Figi- Fig- P. BARR.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLxoATIoN FILED 11111151911.

1,053,552. Petentea Feb. 18,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

: 1e 68 @es \6 FREDERIC BARR, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

application led February 15, 1911. Serial No. 608,656.

zen of the United States, and a resident of` New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates particularly to pull socket switches for incandescent electric lamps.

The main object is to provide a simple,

inexpensive and reliable construction which can be readily assembled, adjusted, operated aud disassembled and in which there is no danger of short circuiting, grounding or injury from sparking.

In its preferred form the invention is illustrated as applied toa double breakpull socket switch. It will be apparent however that the invention is not limited to such constructions.

The improvements herein claimed reside particularly in the construction and method of supporting the movable switch contact member.

The metal parts are carried by a suitable supporting body preferably of insulating material. As porcelain is commonly used Afor the supporting blocks or bodies of such to refer to them as the porcelain or porcelains where the block is in two parts and these terms will be used in describingr the construction although it should be understood that any equivalent material is intended .to be covered by these terms.

Figurey 1, is a vertical sectional view and elevation of a lamp socket switch embodying the improvements of my invention, the socket shell, the threaded lamp terminalI socket and the insulating fiber being shown in section and the other parts in front elevation. Fig. 2, is a side elevation showing the porcelains `and interior parts of the chain guide dotted. Fig. 3, is a plan View, the cap being removed. Fig. 4, is a View of the under side ofthe uppervpart of the switch carrying block or porcelain. Fig. 5, is a plan view of the lower porcelain with attached stationary switch contacts. Fig. (l,

.is a rear View of the lower porcelain showing the central post attached thereto. Fig. 7, is a sectional View of the lower porcelain and switch contacts on the plane of the line X X of Fig. 5. Fig. 8, is a detail perspective view of one of the switch contacts. Fig. 9, is a plan view of a metal ratchet plate. Fig. 10, is a plan view of an insulat ing member preferably of porcelain which carries the movable switch contact arms or switch member. Fig. 11, is a side view ofthe same showing the switch contact arms in place. Fig. 12, is a bottom View of the same. Fig. 13, is a side View of theporcelain block members showing dotted the electrical connection from one binding post to on of the stationary switch contacts. Fig. M is an opposite side view showing dotted the electrical connection from the other binding post to the threaded socket terminal for the lamp. Fig. 15, is a vertical sectional View of the switch construction on the plane of the line Y Y of Fig.I 3. Fig. 16, is a horizontal section on thel` plane of the line Z Z of Fig. 1. Fig. 17, iis a drop perspective View showing the separate parts of the mechanism without the shell. Fig. 18, is a detail perspective view of a somewhat moditied central post construction.

The shell is ofany suitable type consisting preferably of the body 1 which is removably 'telescoped at its upper end in the cap 2. The switch is operated by means of a cord or chain 3 which is guided in the tube or bell 4 which projects through the shell. The parts of the switch proper are carried by the porcelain body which consists of two parts. The upper part 5 is secured in a suitable manner as will .hereinafter appear to the lower part 6. These two parts in the form which I have illustrated have respectively the semi-cylindrical flanges 7 and 8 which serve to form recesses Yfor inclosing theV switch contacts. The lower part carriesV the screw threaded socket 9 which forms one terminal for the lamp and the center spring member 10 forming the central terminal for the lamp. Suitable insulation, for instance, liber as 1 may be provided inside of the shell around the porcelains and switch mechanism. The contact wires leading to the socket are secured to the circuit terminals 11 and 12 which are located in recesses in the upper end of the upper porcelain part 5. These terminals are secured in place by screws 13 and 111 respectively .which pass through openings 15 and 16 respectively in the upper porcelain and also hold the upper and lower porcelains together. The plate 17 has screw threaded openings 18 and 19 and is secured to the lower porcelain by means of a screw which passes through a hole 20- in the screw threaded socket 9 and the hole 21 in the lower porcelain part 6 and is screwed into the opening 19 in the plate 17. 4 The plate 17 is located in a recess 22 so as to protect and hold itin place. The terminal screw 4 13 is screwed into. the hole 18 in the plate 17 asl and the upper and lower parts of the porco lain are thus held securely together.

The stationary switch contacts 23 and 24 are in' the form of curved spring plates each of which has a downwardly and inwardly turned foot such as 25 `secured to the lower porcelain 6. The plate 26 has screw-threaded holes or openings 27 and 28. The screw 29 passes through the opening 30 lin the lower porcelaimthrough a hole in the foot 25 of the contact member 23 and is screwed into the hole 27 in the plate 26. This con# tact 23 and plate 26 are preferably located .in the recess 31 to better protect and position the parts. The terminal screw 14 which passes through the hole 16 in vthe upper porcelain is screwed into the hole 28 of the plate 26 andthus secures the two parte of the porcelain together in much the same manner as the screw 13 and the parts described in connection therewith. The other spring contact 24 is secured to the lower or base porcelain G'by means of a nut 32 and screw 33 (see Fig. 7). The contact 24 is ilocated preferably in a recess 34 to better position and protect the parts. The screw 33 alsosecures the center lamp terminal 10 to the base and thus electrically connects the switch contact 24 and the terminal 10. The screw 35 passes through the hole 36 inthe socket 9, hole 37 in part 6. and screws into nut 38 in recess 39 to more securely hold the threaded socket 9.

The circuit terminal 11 is electrically connected with the lamp terminal 9 by means of the circuit through screw 13, plate 17 and screw 20. rthe circuit terminal 12' is electrically connected to theI switch Contact 23 bv the circuit including the screw 14 and plate 26. T he other switch contact 24 is elecn tricallv connected to the center lamp terminal by the screw 33.

rllhe stationary switch contacts 23 and 24 are adapted to be connected by means of a rotary switch Contact member having the spring arms 40 and 41 which are adapted to engage the switch contacts 23 and 24 and thus bridge the same. yi'he switch contact member is mounted in a .in the lower part of an insulating member 42 which is formed preferably of porcelain and which' may be termed the switch contact- 'member carrier. The switch contact member consists of a plate 43 withfthe Spring arms and 41 integral therewith and having a central opening to tit the sognare boss 44 in the under side of the carrier so as tc rotate with the carrier. The carrier is rotatably mounted Loef-m52 on the rigid central post 45 but. the switch contact member is not electrically connected with the post. .The post is secured to the boss 6 rigidly and has lits upper end free as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The lower end of the post in the preferred form has a slotted head 46 in a. recess in the bot-tom of the base. A threaded portion 47 passes by through an opening in the base and is engaged by an angular nut 48 which is located in a recess in the upper face of the'base 6 so as to be Hush with the upper side thereof as shown in. Figs. 7 and 17. rlhe post is secured in place by screwing it into the nut 48 after the nut is placed inthe recess in the upper face of the base. The post may be removed by unscrewiner from the nut 48 and thus releasingk it. The upper end of the post 45 extends into an opening 49 in the upper porcelain. 5.

The switch contact member and carrier 42 are operated intermittently in al left hand direction by means of an oscillating ratchet member 50 and a pull cord or chain 3. The ratchet member 50 has one or more downwardly projecting teeth 52. The carrier 42 has al recess in its upper surface with opposing teeth 53.. instead of having the teeth 52 of the ratchet 'member engage the teeth 53 on the carrier as might be done I prefer to interpose a ratchet plate 54 having downwardly turned teeth such as 55 engaging the carrier teeth 53 andl having a central opening 56 engaging the angular boss 57 on the carrier so that the plate and carrier rotate together. llthe bending down of the teeth 55 leaves shoulders such as 55 which constitute teeth for co-action with the teeth 52 on the lratchet member 50. When the ratchet member is pulled by the chain 3 so as to oscillate left handed it causes a correspond ing movement ot the carrier and switch contact member.

The coil spring 58 which encircles the post 45 has its upper end relatively stationary and its lower. end bent into ho-ok'form as at 59 to engage the shoulder 60 on the operating ratchet member 50 soy as to normally press the ratchet member toward the left and return it to that position when released at which time it presses against the shoulder 6l of the porcelain (see Fig. 16). When the chain is pulled and the ratchet member oscillates left. handed lto the right in Fig. 16 the ratchet member engages the shoulder 62 so that the movement is limited.

`Beneath the upper ends of the inclined springv switch contacts 23 and 24 I prefer to provide shoulders 63 and 64 to preventthe backward rotation of the carrier 42 'and switch member arms. 40 and 41 when the switch member is in the o position. Adjacent the lower ence of the switch contacts 23 and l provide shoulders 65 and 66 on which the switch member arms 40 and 41 rest when in the "5 or open position `which the upper end of the spring 59 is ataosassa contacts are in the closed or on posi'- tionf ,s n v In order to adjustthespring 58 I provide a sleeve 68 which forms an abutment to tached. This sleeve its on the upper end of the post 45 in the opening 49 and has one or more inclined teeth 69 engaging with corresponding ratchet teeth 70 (see Fig. 4) formed in the under surface of the upper porcelain part 5. The'parts are assembled on the post spring 58 being loose. The sleeve is then simply rotated by a suitable instrument from the top ofthe upper porcelain (see Fig. 3) so as to tighten the spring 58'to the extent.

` plate 72.

The chain is attached tothe under side of the ratchet member 50 and runs around one side of the carrier 42 resting on the flan e 8 of'. the' lower porcelain inside the ber ining l, The chain guide bell 4 is attached to a plate 72 located inside of the socket shell and the shank 7 3 of the bell projects through a slot 74 in the body 1 ofthe shell just beneath the lower edge of the c'ap'2 of the shell. The plate 72 is held between the insulating liber 1l carrying block as To more securely the plate 72 with upwardly projecting fingers 75 and 76 lwhich embrace the sides of shown in Figs. 1 and 16.

the lug 77 on the periphery of the upper f porcelain 5 and the lug 77 projects into the slot 74 in the shell above the body of the This prevents the plate `from Vturning. When thecap 2 is removed from the body of' the shell the entire switch mechanism may be removed lby lifting the bell 4. When the parts are removed from the shell the plate 72 is simply held loosely in position by the lug 77, the chain guide not being attached either to the shell or to the porcelain but simply held in place by the relative position of the parts. This construction is very easy to assemble.

Instead of having the head of the rigid post 45 integral with it as shown in Fig. 7 it may be separate asshown in Fig. 18. The post is screw threaded at 47 at the lower end andthe two nuts 46 and 48 are prospirit or scope of "vided `for engaging the lowei` and upper surfaces of thebase part. 6 of the porcelain. Other changes if desired in the construction maybe made without departing from the l my invention. The rigid post 'holds the parts in proper alinement and also makes it very easy to assemble' them.

. From the foregoing it will ,be noted that 45. in their proper order, ,thev ity to the other part of from said spindle when the parts desired the "spindle clamping said spindley rigidly tosaid base,. a switch contact secured to said base adand'A the porcelain switch4 position the bell Il provide' `nut screwed on to spindle on clamping said spindle rigidly to said base,v

the switchparts are completely insulated fromJ the shell and the operating chain is not electrically connected to any current carrying member. There is therefore no possibility of any grounding or leakage of current.

The features of the chain guide construction are claimed in my application #639,522 filed July 20, 1911.

1. In a pull switch, an insulatingbase formed of two separable parts, 'a spindle passing through one part and havlng a head on one side of said part and a nut on the other side .of said part clamping said s indle rigidly to vsaid part, the other end o said spindle extending into proximsaid base, and a switch member2 a lever, a .spring land an abutment on said spindle and all removable of 'said base are separated.

2. In a pull switch, an insulating base with a spindle opening, through said opening and havingra head on one sideI of'said base vand a'nut screwed onto on the other side of said bas Lacent said spindle, a rotatable switch memr on saidy spindle, an oscillating ratchet lever on said spindle, a springon said spindle and a movable abutment for, the` outer end of said spring, said rotary switch member, `said Alever and said spring being readily removable from said spindle without disturbing said spindle when said abut ment is removed.

l3. In a pull switch, an insulating base with a` spindle opening a one-piece s indle extending through sai o enin an having a. head on one side ofps'aidgbase and a the spindle on to the other side of said base and clamping said spindle rigidly to said base, switch contacts secured to said base on opposite sides of said spindle, a switch member on said spindle but insulatedtheretrom and' adapted to connect said contacts, au oscillating operating lever mounted on said spindle, removable means fo'r holding said switch member and said operating lever on 'said spindle and lamp terminals secured to said insulatmg base and insulated from said spindle, one of saidlamp terminals being electrically vconnected to one of said contacts.

4. In a pull switch, an insulating base with a spindle opening, a spindle extending through said opening and having a head on one side of said base and a nut on the the other side of said base switch contactssccured to -said base on cpposite sides o said sindle, a switch memer'on said spindle a apted to connect said on said spindle, said switch member and spindle or removed from said spindle, when having a slotted head in one recess and a nut clamped in the opposite recess, a switch contact secured to said base adjacent said spindle, a rotary switch member and an operating lever removably mounted on said spindle, and -a detachable abutment for se curing said switch member and said lever lever being adapted to be placed, on said said securing abutment is Adetached, Without disturbing said spindle.

6. In'a pull switch, an insulating block, a

post having one end rigidly clamped thereto, a switch contact mounted on said block, a rotatable insulating disk on said post, a switch member carried thereby and insulated from said post, said insulating block and disk surrounding said switch Contact, an operating lever mounted on said post and coacting with aid insulating disk, a helical spring on said post engaging said lever anda chain for oscillating said lever.

7. In a pull switch, a two-part insulating block, a post rigidly clamped-to one part, an insulating disk rotatably mounted on said rimasta y post, a switch member carried by said disk, an oscillating operating lever mounted on said post, and coacting with said disk and an operating chain secured to said operating lever and extending part way around said insulating disk between the two parts of said insulating block, said insulating block and disk surrounding said switch member.

8. In a pull switch, .two insulating blocks forming a base, means for detachably securing said blocks together, a spindle passing through one blockand having a head on one side of said block and a nut screwed on to said spindle on the other side of said block and clamping one end oi said spindle rigidly to said block, the other end of said spindle extendin into proximity .to the other .insulatinglock and switch loperating mechanism mounted on said spindle and readily removable from said spindle without disturbing said spindle when the parts of Vsaid base are separated.

' 9. In a pull socket, an insulating block having a spindle passage and a recess in its inner face around said passage, a spindlefextending through said passage and having va head at the outer face of said block and a nut' held in said recess through which said spindle is screwed, said spindle being supported whollyv by said block, a second insulating block detachably secured to the first mentioned block and switch mechanism mounted .on said spindle between said block and removable from the outer end of said spindlewithout disturbing lsaid spindle,y

when said blocks are separated.

- FREDERIC BARR.

.Witnesses:

R. S. ALLYN, RICHARD W. Holman. 

